Results 11,641-11,660 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (6 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and I intend to progress the legislation before the end of term in order to ensure that we can have the scheme ready for homeowners to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Generation (6 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In accordance with Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned. However, I can advise that a decision on the substitute consent application for the Derrybrien Wind Farm in County Galway was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (CPR) sets out rules for the marketing of construction products in the EU, from 1 July 2013. Where a construction product, covered by a harmonised standard (includes concrete blocks, aggregates for concrete and cement), is being placed on the EU market, the CPR requires the manufacturer to draw up a ‘declaration of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In making appointments to State boards under my remit, my Department operates in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on appointments to State Boards, published in November 2014.  The Public Appointments Service has responsibility for managing an open, accessible and transparent system to support Ministers in making state board appointments and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The repair and leasing scheme provides support to owners of vacant properties to bring the units up to the standard for rental property. The local authority, or approved housing body, pays for the repairs upfront and the home is taken into social housing stock by way of lease for between 5 and 25 years. The cost of repairs is offset against reduced lease payments to the property owner and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 241 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 230 of 23 June 2022, which sets out the position in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The working group convened in September 2020 to examine the issues relating to unsold affordable properties is continuing to consider a number of options. Any solutions put forward will consider all relevant parties including the tenants, the approved housing bodies, the local authorities and achieve good value for the Exchequer. These will be contained...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Met Éireann, is a line division of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and, under its Weather and Climate Research Programme, funds full time Ph.D. positions through various instruments. Funding is in part given to cover the Ph.D. student’s stipend, which currently is at a flat rate of €18,500 per annum for up to four years, as per all Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's contributions to the humanitarian challenges that have arisen as a consequence of the situation in Ukraine have evolved in recent weeks. The task force initially examined options under three headings: rapid delivery volumetric accommodation; use of vacant public and private buildings as multi-occupancy accommodation; and measures to stimulate and accelerate construction of new...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Quarrying Sector (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In October 2021, I requested the National Building Control & Market Surveillance Office in partnership with Donegal County Council and with the support of Geological Survey Ireland, to carry out a market surveillance audit of all quarries in Co Donegal. The purpose of this audit was to evaluate relevant economic operators’ compliance with the Construction Products Regulation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The assessment of households for social housing support is the responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations, which set down a standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing support. A household may apply for support to one housing authority only....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants and as such, the implementation of the new tenancy management system is an operational matter for the RTB.  I am aware that some landlord...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Building Control Act 1990 as amended provides, inter alia, for the making of Building Regulations in respect of the construction of buildings. The aim of the Building Regulations is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings. The Building Regulations apply to the design and construction of a new building (including a dwelling) and certain works to an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is leading the initial humanitarian response, including providing emergency and longer-term accommodation. As part of a whole-of-government response, DCEDIY is securing accommodation for arrivals through: - hotels, guest houses and B&Bs; - accommodation pledged by the general public; -...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 225 to 227, inclusive, together. Part 4 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 provides for the establishment of the ‘First Home’ affordable purchase shared equity scheme to support purchases of new build homes in the private market. The Scheme aims to support c. 8,000 households in acquiring new homes in the private market in the years...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Affordable Housing Act 2021 provides for two new affordable home purchase schemes, which both use an equity share model. Part 2 of the Act provides for the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, and Part 4 of the Act provides for the First Home Scheme.  Newly-built homes made available by local authorities under the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme will be sold...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes in the period 2022-2026.  Individual targets for the delivery of social housing have been provided to each local authority. Budget 2022 provided just over €4...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am working with Government colleagues and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to provide for an increase in the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) discretion rate to 35% and for new tenancies to expand the couple’s rate to single persons where required. This will secure more tenancies and prevent new entries to homelessness.  The planned expansion of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Budget 2022 (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Total Gross allocation for my Department in 2022 as set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2022 published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) is €5,933m. This  is made up of €2,530m Current and €3,403m Capital. This will be supplemented by €276m Capital Carryover from 2021. In addition, my Department's housing...